Dusk City · Inner City, inside the Grand Library.
Though it was called the Grand Library, it contained relatively few ancient books—not even one ten-millionth of the Soul Grand Library. This was not because the Blazing Sun Star lacked foundations. At the end of the First Era, Devouring Abyssal Dragon broke through the Blazing Sun Star's layers of protective barriers and spewed dragonfire over Blazing Sun City.
Given the hatred between the Ancient Dragon and Sun factions, of course they would destroy whatever hurt their enemy most. Burning down the palace in the central district would be satisfying, but before long, the Sun God Clan could have the races that depended on them build an even grander palace. The royal library, however, preserved countless rare books, ninety-nine percent of which were unique.
Devouring Abyssal Dragon devoured even abyssal energy while retaining a measure of sanity—already a miracle. Naturally, it did not care what burning down the royal library would do to First Era civilization. Besides, at the end of the First Era, the Sun and Ancient Dragon factions were fighting more viciously than ever.
In the end, Devouring Abyssal Dragon was slain by the returning Sun King, but the royal library was reduced to ashes, and a fifth of the royal city's buildings became ruins.
Tall bookshelves made of walnut stood in rows, their wood coated with the patina of time, lending the grain a beauty born of age. When the ancient books displayed on them were picked up and smelled, they still carried a faint scorched odor.
Beside the tallest shelf at the very back stood a small round wooden table with a candleholder on it. The darkness of the latter half of the night was pushed back somewhat by the dim candlelight. A stooped, emaciated old man stood